Game-board



(No Model.)

G.`P. HOPMEISTER. GAME BOARD.

No.582g474. t Patented May11,1897.

cf//ayefsfsfe5f.- 'L Liv-amm@ we Noam: Ptrsns co., vucmumo., wAsnmGToN u c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE F. HOFMEISTER, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA..

GAM E-BOARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 582,474, dated May 11, 1897. Application filed November 10, 1896. Serial No. 611,595. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, GEORGE F. HOEMEISTEE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allogheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game-Boards, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in game-boards, and relates particularly to a device, apparatus, or game-board to imitate trap-shooting at birds, blue rocks, clay pigeons, and the like; and it consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more specificallydescribed, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The invention aims to construct a gameboard for this purpose whereby the shooter will be required to shoot at the object released from anvunknown trap, a series of which are arranged in semicircular form in front of the shooter7 his object being to hit the object within certainv bounds in order to make a score, and the count being determined by the position in which the object finally rests after being hit or killed on the board.

The invention further aims to construct a game-board that will be extremely simple in its construction, strong, durable, effectual in its operation, and that will afford considerable amusement to those playing the game, and requiring considerable skill to become proficient in the manipulation.

In. describing the invention in detail reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification and whe rein like letters of referenceV indicate similar parts throughout the different views, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of my improved game-board. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the spring-gun. Fig. 3 is a perspective "view of the catch forming the trap. Fig. a is a longitudinal sectional view of the board, taken on the line X X of Fig. l.

In the drawings, a represents the baseboard forming the field, which is provided with a rim b, extending above the level of the board to prevent the ball rolling off the same. In the drawings I have shown the field as kite-shaped in form, though I do not wish to limit myself to the shape, and on that portion of the iield containing the traps the face -is inclined and provided with grooves c c, converging toward a common center and forming runways for the objects representing the birds. At the upper end of these grooves are hinged the gravity-catches d d, provided with a small hook e e, to which are attached the operating-cords ff, passing through the rim b, in underthe base-board or field, and through a keeper or other device for bringing the cords to a common center, where they pass to a convenient point near the spring-gun. A circle g is provided on the base-boardor field and constitutes the bounds within which the bird must be killed in order to count for the shooter. At the forward end of the field the rim b is provided with a cut-away portion h, in which is swiveled the spring-gun, consisting of the barrel la, carrying a pin le', forming a swivel, a piston-rod l, extending through the barrel and carrying a piston-head Z on the forward end and a catch-button Z2 on the rear end, said piston-rod being provided with a coil-spring m, arranged between the butt of the barrel and the piston-head, which is cornpressed as the piston is retracted and forces the head through the barrel when the piston is released. The base-board or field is provided with a series of pins n n, arranged in triangular, semicircular, or other suitable form to act as rests for the birds, each rest numberedand the score being taken as designated by the numbers.

The manner in which the game is to be played and the count attained is as follows: We will assume that the traps have been loaded-that is, a marble or other spherical body representing the bird has been placed therein, the gravity-catch serving to hold same in position. The bullet is then placed in the gun, and when the plunger or piston is retracted the bullet follows the piston. The gun is aimed for the traps, and when the string or cord attached to one of the gravity-catches is pulled it raises the catch, thus releasing the ball, which rolls down the runway into the circle. The operator or shooter releases the piston and endeavors to shoot the ball re- IOO leased from the trap while the same is Within the bounds as determined by the circle. In case the operator fails to hit the released ball the same will more than likely roll to the extreme end of the field without engaging any of the rests, and thus fail to count, but should the operator shoot the ball representing the released bird the bullet will force the ball out of the ordinary path that it would pursue, likely knocking the same among the pins, where it will zigzag about until it iinds a rest and counts for the shooter according to the number of the rest. Thus if the object-ball landed in rest numbered l5 and the bullet in rest numbered 6 the operator has made the score of 21 at the one shot, while should he fail to hit the released ball Within the circle no score is counted even though the ball or bullet should fall in the rest.

It will be observed that when one person is handling the gun another may operate the cords to release the balls from the traps and may manipulate these in such a manner as to have the ball released from a trap unknown to the shooter, thus requiring careful watch ing and con siderable skill on his part to kill the bird Within the specified bounds.

It will also be noted that various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the general spirit of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a gaine-board, a base-board having a rim, a spring-gun sWiveled in one end, a raised inclined portion at the opposite end, said inclined portion provided with grooves, hinged gravity-catches at the rear end of said grooves and cords attached to said catches to operate the same, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a game-board, a base representing a field having an `inclined portion, a spring-gun swiveled at one end, gravity-catches forming traps, operating-cords attached to said catches, and a series of rests arranged on the field, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a toy game representing trap-shoot ing, abase-board forming theield, a raisedinclined portion of said base-board having runways, traps at the upper ends of runways, means for operating said traps, said baseboard provided with boundary-lines, a springgun swiveled at one end of the base-board and rests arranged on the field, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE F. IIO FM EISTER.

lvitnesses:

A. M. XVILsoN, Il. E. SEIBERT. 

